Gia Gulino and Cappello won the M&S Junior Medal Finals at the Showplace Fall Classic Championship.

Wayne, IL - September 12, 2015 - The Marshall & Sterling Medal Finals took place today in the crisp fall weather at the Showplace Fall Classic Championship. Riders worked throughout the year to qualify for the competitive Midwest Medals, and Saturday afternoon each respective division saw riders vie for the coveted championship. The Grand Prix Ring was transformed from a technical 1.45m course into a challenging track that tested the riders' equitation, asking questions of each contender that would help select the best from the division. After each rider had their chance at the first round medal course, the top riders were called back for additional testing.

Gia Gulino, 16, from Naperville, Illinois, rode Cappello, a 7-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding, to the win in the Marshall & Sterling Junior Medal Finals with a score of 83. The Juniors who returned for the testing were asked to perform two changes of lead in the canter, a hand gallop to an oxer, followed by a halt and trot vertical, and they needed to show a trot lengthening at the end. Gulino's lead changes were flawless, giving her the advantage and placing her test-ride at the top of the leader board.

Gia Gulino and Cappello

"I am feeling great!" Gulino said. "We are getting ready for Regionals so classes like these with harder courses and more challenging jumps is really beneficial. Cappello has been awesome, and I have been working on my position and getting my leg stronger."

Rebecca Kozma and Finn placed second with a 78, while Kira Telford placed third with a score of 75 on Larry to round out the top three of the Marshall & Sterling Junior Medal Finals. In fourth place was Louisa Brackett on King Bee with a score of 74.

The Sore No More Children's Medal Finals was a large class of 17 riders, and 12-year-old Aristea Santoro from Traverse City, Michigan, on Audience of One was able to clinch the title with a score of 82.

Aristea Santoro and Audience of One won the Sore No More Children's Medal Final at the Showplace Fall Classic Championship

"I usually put my hands on the neck so I have been practicing keeping them up and I think about keeping my heels down during the jump," explained Santaro, who has enjoyed her first time showing at Showplace.

There was a shake up in the second through fourth placings after the second round testing for the Sore No More Children's Medal Finals. Colby Kelly on Wimbledon impressed the judges and improved to place second with a 78, Julia Gilman placed third on Nautilus with a 79, Britta Stoeckel placed fourth with an 80, and Hailey Johns on Conaro placed fifth with a score of 77, exemplifying the pressure of executing a solid test.

In the Farnam Adult Medal Finals, Meredith Wegbreit from Barrington, Illinois, and Tachman, a 12-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, won with a score of 84.

Meredith Wegbreit and Tachman won the Farnam Adult Medal Finals at the Showplace Fall Classic Championship.

"He was great! I was a little weak to start, but he helped me out," Wegbreit said. "I've really been working on keeping my leg on in the turns because I've had a difficult time with that."

Second and third place Adult Medal riders swapped places after the additional testing which included a trot jump, halt, and double-combination. In second place was Rita Krejci on Eli with a score of 73, Mary Beth Canfield placed third on Insignia with a 78, and Kaitlin Nelson and Silhouette placed fourth with a score of 62 points.

Showplace Productions Fall Classic Championship will conclude tomorrow with the Illinois Hunter Jumper Association (IHJA) Medal Finals, commencing at 7:30 a.m. Live streaming is available for Sunday's Finals, and all classes from the weekend are available on demand at http://www.starcreeklive.com/index.html.